In hundreds of communities across the US, finding a dentist is like pulling teeth − but in 14 states, dental therapists are filling the gap

For more than 50 million Americans, finding a dentist is a difficult^[1] – in some cases, impossible^[2] – proposition. Many rural communities don’t have a dentist^[3]. People of color and those with disabilities often lack access^[4], and only about one-third of dentists accept Medicaid^[5].

That’s why dental therapists – professionals who don’t have a full dentistry degree but are trained to provide basic dental care...

Read more https://theconversation.com/in-hundreds-of-communities-across-the-us-finding-a-dentist-is-like-pulling-teeth-but-in-14-states-dental-therapists-are-filling-the-gap-241740